Excited but anxious...

[scuba_katt]

just received my Rescue Diver Crew Pack in the mail from my dive instructor today!

Tomorrow I get a new dive medical update, Sunday I'm doing the PADI first aid course, and then in two weeks I'll be doing the practical open water rescues and the exam...

Getting nervous, and starting to question my abilities....

Anyone want to share their experiences of when they did their Rescue Diver Course? Good, bad or a bit of both?

Cheers!

 

[Welshman]

Scuba-katt

This is all relatively fresh in my mind as I completed my Rescue Diver course in November.

1. You will enjoy it!!

2. It is hard work so make sure you're in good shape.

3. See 1 above!!!!!

Best of luck

regards

 

[KeyLargoBrent]

In reality, rescues are stressful. The course will help to prepare you to deal with diving emergencies effectively, in spite of stress. Some anxiety is normal, and will contribute to your effective performance. Fear and doubt, however, will hinder your performance, and may lead to panic. Common sense and clear thinking are critical to effective rescue. Just learn what you can, and do your best to help the "patient".

Components of effective rescue are broken down into individual exercises that are easily demonstrated and practiced. Then, these exercises are combined to simulate a realistic diving emergency, and students work together to respond effectively.

There are few strictly "right or wrong" responses. Students are challenged to safely apply their newly acquired knowledge to effectively render assistance. Each exercise is generally followed by a debriefing, which presents yet another learning opportunity, and more than a few good laughs!

Be safe, have fun, and never stop learning.

 

[DivingGal]

As Welshman said, "you will enjoy it" It was one of the best experiences I've had while training. Now, as a DM, it's still one of the courses I ask to be assist on.

The skills you learn are the start of getting a diver to be aware of what is going on around them. Not only to be aware of themselves and their kit, but others too.

 

[Big-t-2538]

A challenging, yet very rewarding course if you're willing to put the time and effort in. Resue makes you so very well aware of your surroundings you begin to watch everyone when you're diving in groups. It is really a great foundation in leading to a DM or Instructor course.

 

[Louie]

I found that the Rescue course was the single most useful (and probably most relevant for common dive scenarios) since the Open Water course.

I did the Rescue course last March in a muddy swamp in outer London so yours should be more scenic.

As with any course, a lot depends on the instructors and their keenness and ability to communicate their knowledge. The course itself is organised into coherent topics and it should all come together by the time you do your practical application in open water.

All the best on your course

 

[Wreck/Tec]

Relax, alot of this is common sense and being observent! One of my instructors was 6'4" tall, and in excess of 300 lbs! When it came time to notice someone was missing, I spoke up, and drew him for being so observant. Find the victim, and bring them back, how hard could that be? Getting my arms around him was a challenge. His arms were always swipeing at me, at first. The man was an octopus! Just STOP, THINK, and ACT!
Wreck/Tec

 

[scuba_katt]

I know its going to be a bit of hard work, and I've heard from SO many people that it was the best course they've done (dive-wise) because it makes you much more aware of other divers as well as your own safety.

I'm a very level-headed, non panicky diver (so far!), and I've had at least one situation where I've had to calm an unexperienced diver under water in 25 metres when she started to panic and hyperventilate and when I spoke to her the next week she was very thankful and said that she respected the fact that I'd stayed calm, and helped her to calm down, and that I hadn't ridiculed her about it afterwards (of course I wouldn't have!!).

So its going to be nice to learn the methodical techniques/suggested methods of helping other divers.

Cheers!!

 

[bwerb]

at the end. I did it over a weekend and it took three days to recover completely. We did all the drills in teams of three which meant that we did all the scenarios three times so each participant did each part.

1.) I really learned my equipment well. I learned that if someone is not familiar with a back inflate BCD they will flip you onto your front when you play "victim" when they overinflate your BCD. I also learned that with my BCD if you don't release the shoulders before the waist belt, the weight pockets cause the whole thing to sink and the shoulder releases are trapped under your armpits where no one wearing gloves seemed to be able to reach them.

2.) I learned that it is a LOT harder to maintain an open airway and provide rescue breathing over a long surface swim than it looks.

3.) I learned that some people are a complete hazard to dive with because when stress hits they go to zombie mode and follow "textbook" thinking and can't seem to adapt what they have learned to a dynamic situation. I did the course with my buddy who did not have this problem but we really became aware of how important it is to know who you are diving with.

4.) I learned that no matter how the scenario pans out positive or negative you can learn a great deal for next time. It's not that you can feel comfortable making mistakes, it's just that you can step back after every situation and say "here's what I could have done better".

5.) Lastly I learned that the true value of a course can be determined by how much gear goes missing during the dives...or should I say the true cost of the course (one dive computer, three weight belt blanks (ferry wake), one snorkel and one fin strap clip...not all mine thank goodness;-0

You will have an awesome time! Good luck!